Everybody loves digging into the Thanksgiving dinner, but dealing with leftovers can be a challenge, especially if you’ve got picky eaters on your hands. Luckily there are lots of ways to transform your Turkey Day feast into something entirely new (and they’re not all turkey sandwiches, either!). Read on for our favorite recipes that make use of Thanksgiving leftovers, from hearty soups to stuffing waffles.
Turkey Noodle Soup
Put all that turkey to good use by whipping up a delicious batch of this turkey noodle soup from The Cook Report. It’ll definitely be lighter than your Thanksgiving feast was, but it’s still packed with flavor thanks to ingredients like tahini, miso and soy sauce. To get the recipe, click here.
Cheesy Cranberry, Bacon and Turkey Sliders
These drool-worthy sliders from Simple Seasonal can knock out three types of leftovers at once: dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and turkey. If you’ve got guests sticking around on Black Friday and beyond, this is the perfect way to feed a crowd. Click here to grab the recipe.
Thanksgiving Dinner Casserole
When you’re so sick of turkey you can’t even look at it anymore, that’s when you should prep this genius casserole from Make-Ahead Meal Mom. Once it’s assembled, just throw it in the freezer, and it’s ready to go once you’re ready for a mini Thanksgiving feast in a month or two. Get all the details by clicking here.
Cranberry Turkey Mozzarella Pull-Apart Bread
This pull-apart bread from Whitney Bond is the stuff of snacking dreams. Sourdough bread is filled with mozzarella cheese, turkey and cranberry sauce, then baked until it’s melty and delicious. Drooling yet? Click here to get your hands on the recipe.
Turkey and Stuffing Hash
Turkey’s not just for dinner! Take inspiration from Trampling Rose and make a yummy turkey and stuffing hash for breakfast. Topped with leftover gravy and eggs, it’s a delicious way to repurpose your holiday feast. To get the recipe, click here.
Turkey Teriyaki Stir-Fry
For a super easy 15-minute dinner, whip up this stir-fry from Bless Her Heart Y’all using the last of your turkey. Made with rice noodles, a quick sauce and whatever veggies you have on hand, it’s also a light meal that tastes great after days of heavy eating. To get the recipe, click here.
Waffled Brunch
FoodNetwork.com devised this clever way to use your leftovers for brunch the next morning. Simply fill the waffle iron with stuffing, and you've got yourself a stuffing waffle in just four to six minutes. For the full how-to, click over to FoodNetwork.com.
Thanksgiving Leftover Bagel Sandwiches
For a hearty breakfast or lunch, pair your leftover turkey with pesto and cranberries to make this drool-worthy bagel sandwich from Glitter and Bubbles. Topped off with cream cheese and butter lettuce, it’s sure to be a winning combination. Click here to get the recipe.
Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
Warm up with a big bowl of turkey and wild rice soup. This recipe from The Skinny Fork is hearty but healthy, not to mention the perfect weeknight dinner for picky kids. Click here to get the scoop.
Turkey Pot Pie
No one can resist a good pot pie, and this one, made with golden puff pastry and you guessed it—leftover turkey, is sure to be a hit with the whole family. Get the recipe, which can easily be adapted to incorporate what's in your fridge, over at One Hungry Mama.
White Turkey Chili
Try out a twist on your classic chili with this recipe from Juanita's Cocina. It's easy to adjust to your family's tastes, making it spicier or milder as needed. Click here to grab the recipe.
Shepherd's Pie Casserole
Turn your feast into a classic comfort food. The best part? This version of shepherd's pie from Kalyn's Kitchen is lightened up with a cauliflower garlic topping rather than mashed potatoes. To snag the recipe, click here.
Orange Cranberry Muffins
We're always left with half a bag of fresh cranberries after Thanksgiving, and now we've finally found the perfect use for them: these tasty muffins from Girl in the Little Red Kitchen. To get the recipe, click here.
Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza
We've never seen a pizza quite like this before! With cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and turkey, this recipe from Jelly Toast is bound to become a new after-Thanksgiving tradition for your family. Get the recipe by clicking here.
Turkey and Stuffing Turnovers
These turnovers look pretty impressive (read: hard to make), but they'll actually come together quickly with the help of frozen puff pastry sheets. Fill the pastry with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy, and you'll have a mini feast ready in no time. Check out the recipe at A Family Feast.
—Susie Foresman
For more great recipe ideas, click here!
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